The “Why I Hate Gift Guides” Holiday Gift Guide

Getting someone an experience is the trendy thing to do these days, but it’s nothing new for us—we’ve spent years preaching that time and resources are better used to get out and see the world instead of buying stuff.

At the end of the day, sometimes you just need to get a gift. My first recommendation is to use your travels wisely, picking up things along the way at small local stores and even well-curated hotel gift shops. But chances are, you haven’t. And as the days of December start to dwindle, overspending starts to seem a lot more appealing.

If you, like me, have googled gift guides, once in a while you pick up on a good idea. But more often than not, they’ll lead you to an overpriced coffee-table book (does anyone flip through those?), scented pencils (we’re into small luxuries, but really?), or a candle that makes you sneeze (like anyone needs more candles).

Disclaimer: I’m not claiming mine is any better. But it’s probably shorter, with sources that might spark some fresh ideas.

For the person who has almost every gadget already:

Tech Organizers: If you’re like me, your cords, chargers, ear buds, converters, and everything else is a tangle in your laptop case. My favorite is the Plug Pack, which keeps it all in some semblance of order.

SimpleHuman Sensor Mirror: So you don’t look like a circus performer when you leave for work in the a.m. (and for him, so you can perfectly curate his facial hair).